Recommendations for Strategy for Parks in Rochester’s 2034 Comprehensive Plan
April 2018
Background
We note that multiple small groups assist the city with individual parks and issues related to green space. We also note limited coordination and no commonly accepted comprehensive approach to the issues we collectively face, for making the best use of parks and green space for a more livable city.
Parks are an important part of the cultural history of Rochester; parks to which its citizens gave significant amounts of land, and to which Rochester once devoted staff and energy. Frederick Law Olmsted, who believed that parks were fundamental attributes of a democracy and should be accessible to all classes of society [1], was instrumental in the early design of parkland in Rochester, as was his successor firm. Later, parks were seen as locations for recreation. Rochester became fixed in that model with the incorporation of parks and the parks department into its recreation department. Rochester, in the face of budgetary concerns, has also devoted limited resources to its parks. On the other hand, research over the past few decades provides evidence of the positive physical and psychological effects of nature[2]. Parks, green space, and access to nature can improve health outcomes and diminish violence. In addition, we are faced with an urban population increasingly alienated from nature as we increasingly face the effects of climate change.
Proposal
We propose that Rochester should become (to borrow from an initiative from London, England), “a city where people and nature are better connected. A city that is rich with wildlife [in which] every child benefits from exploring, playing and learning outdoors.” Specifically, we propose that through Rochester 2034 we:
- Ensure 100% of Rochesterians have free and easy access to high-quality green space;
- Connect 100% of our youth to nature;
- Make the majority of Rochester physically green;
- Incorporate green space into new development and make use of abandoned lots for green space including community gardens;
- Improve the richness, connectivity and biodiversity of Rochester’s habitats, and do so with attention to what will best adapt to a changing climate; and
- Promote Rochester as a city known for its green spaces, and the integration of nature into city life.
We believe that Rochester needs a parks department[3]. We also propose a new organizational framework that extends beyond city staff to achieve these aims. In addition to the current organizations, we need a public/non-profit partnership. We anticipate that this partnership would:
- Guide citywide policy and incorporate a positive park ethic into all layers of City governments, its boards and commissions;
- Educate the public about the economic, social, and psychological effects of green space;
- Seek out and promote relevant research;
- Integrate and support the work of citizen groups and organizations committed to individual parks or other green space efforts;
- Promote regulations supporting parks;
- Lobby for local funding; and
- Seek external grants.
We anticipate that, in addition to representation from existing organizations founded to support Rochester-area parks, it would include representatives from one or more of Rochester’s universities and museums.
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[1] Rogers, E.B. (2016) Green Metropolis: The extraordinary landscapes of New York City as nature, history and design. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
[2] See, for example, Maas, et al. “Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?” in Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2006; 60 553-553 & check out relevant web sites linked at https://friendsofwashingtongrove.org/index.php/resources/
[3] Under a previous administration the Department of Parks, Recreation and Human Services was changed to the Department of Recreation and Human Services with many basic park maintenance functions transferred to the Department of Environmental Services. In the process parks have become orphans.